Self-fitting device for location in an ear canal

• US 20080144871A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Belliveau, Scott M., Rajala, Gregory J., Purcell, Ricky W., Corbin, Sena S., Granger, Toriono A., Song, Ki Bok
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/329
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/10 inflatable or expandable

Abstract

Self-fitting device for location in ear canal, including first end portion joined with second end portion. First end portion including first resilient bladder and first chamber of fluid and second end portion including second resilient bladder and second chamber of fluid. The bladders are in communication via the chambers. First bladder is deformable between at-rest position to in-ear position to insertion position such that first bladder has first cross-sectional area in at-rest position, second cross-sectional area in in-ear position and third cross-sectional area in insertion position. First cross-sectional area is greater than second cross-sectional area which is greater than third cross-sectional area. Second bladder is deformable to cause first bladder to be deformed from at-rest position to insertion position before device is located in ear canal.

Claims

1. a self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:

a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder;

a first chamber of fluid defined inside the first bladder and sealed from an environment outside the device;

a second chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device, the second resilient bladder in communication with the first resilient bladder via communication of the second chamber with the first chamber;

the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area; and

,

the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position before the device is located in the ear canal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein deformation of the second resilient bladder causes fluid to leave the second chamber and enter the first chamber and thereby causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position then to the in-ear position and then to the insertion position.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein an external pressure applied to the second resilient bladder deforms the second resilient bladder thereby causing the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position then to the in-ear position then to the insertion position and then back to the in-ear position when the external pressure is removed from the second resilient bladder.

5. The device of claim 1 comprising a plunger in communication with the first and second chambers such that deformation of the second resilient bladder exerts pressure on the plunger causing the plunger to move away from the second chamber and thereby assists to deform the first resilient bladder.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the plunger comprises a head and a shaft joined to the head and with the shaft having an end spaced from the head and the end touching the first resilient bladder at least when the first resilient bladder is deformed.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the plunger comprises a core surrounded by a sheath in sliding relationship therewith.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a gas or a liquid.

8. The device of claim 8 wherein the core is joined with the second resilient bladder and the sheath is joined with the first resilient bladder.

10. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:

a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder;

a first chamber of fluid defined inside the first bladder and sealed from an environment outside the device;

a second chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device, the second resilient bladder in communication with the first resilient bladder via communication of the second chamber with the first chamber;

the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area;

the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the in-ear position; and

,

a plunger in communication with the first and second chambers such that deformation of the second resilient bladder exerts pressure on the plunger causing the plunger to move away from the second chamber and thereby assists to deform the first resilient bladder wherein the plunger comprises a head and a shaft joined to the head and with the shaft having an end spaced from the head and the end touching the first resilient bladder at least when the first resilient bladder is deformed.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the end of the shaft is joined to the first resilient bladder.

12. The device of claim 10 comprising a core in sliding relationship with the head with the core joined to the second resilient bladder.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein an external pressure applied to the second resilient bladder deforms the second resilient bladder and thereby causing the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position then to the in-ear position then to the insertion position and then back to the in-ear position when the external pressure is removed from the second resilient bladder.

14. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:

a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder;

a first chamber of fluid defined inside the first bladder and sealed from an environment outside the device;

a second chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device, the second resilient bladder in communication with the first resilient bladder via communication of the second chamber with the first chamber;

the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area;

the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the in-ear position; and

,

a plunger in communication with the first and second chambers such that deformation of the second resilient bladder exerts pressure on the plunger causing the plunger to move away from the second chamber and thereby assists to deform the first resilient bladder wherein the plunger comprises a core surrounded by a sheath in sliding relationship therewith.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the core is joined with the second resilient bladder and the sheath is joined with the first resilient bladder.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the first resilient bladder comprises a non-resilient material layer surrounding a resilient material layer.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the first resilient bladder comprises a resilient material layer surrounding a non-resilient material layer.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein the first resilient bladder comprises a resilient material layer surrounding a resilient material layer.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein the first resilient bladder maintains an accordion shaped outer surface when in the at-rest position.

20. The device of claim 14 wherein deformation of the second resilient bladder causes fluid to leave the second chamber and enter the first chamber and thereby causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position.

21. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:

a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder;

a chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device;

the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an-insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area; and

,

the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first

the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position before the device is located in the ear canal.